And toward Neil, Joris had also a secret feeling of resentment. He had

taken no pains to woo Katherine until some one else wanted her. It was

universally conceded that he had been the first to draw his sword, and

thus indulge his own temper at the expense of their child's good name

and happiness. Taking these faults as rudimentary ones, Lysbet could

enlarge on them indefinitely; and Joris had undoubtedly been influenced

by his wife's opinions. So, below the smiles and kind words of a long

friendship, there was bitterness. If there had not been, Janet Semple

would hardly have paid that morning visit; for before Lysbet was half

way down the stairs, Katherine heard her call out,-"Here's a bonnie come of. But it is what a' folks expected. 'The

Dauntless' sailed the morn, and Captain Earle wi' a contingent for the

West Indies station. And who wi' him, guess you, but Captain Hyde, and

no less? They say he has a furlough in his pocket for a twelvemonth:

more like it's a clean, total dismissal. The gude ken it ought to be."

So much Katherine heard, then her mother shut to the door of the

sitting-room. A great fear made her turn faint and sick. Were her

father's words true? Was this the meaning of the mysterious wave of the

folded paper toward the ocean? The suspicion once entertained, she

remembered several little things which strengthened it. Her heart failed

her; she uttered a low cry of pain, and tottered to a chair, like one

wounded.

It was then ten o'clock. She thought the noon hour would never come.

Eagerly she watched for Bram and her father; for any certainty would be

better than such cruel fear and suspense. And, if Richard had really

gone, the fact would be known to them. Bram came first. For once she

felt impatient of his political enthusiasm. How could she care about

liberty poles and impressed fishermen, with such a real terror at her

heart? But Bram said nothing; only, as he went out, she caught him

looking at her with such pitiful eyes. "What did he mean?" She turned

coward then, and could not voice the question. Joris was tenderly

explicit. He said to her at once, "'The Dauntless' sailed this morning.

Oh, my little one, sorry I am for thee!"

"Is he gone?" Very low and slow were the words; and Joris only

answered, "Yes."

Without any further question or remark, she went away. They were amazed

at her calmness. And for some minutes after she had locked the door of

her room, she stood still in the middle of the floor, more like one that

has forgotten something, and is trying to remember, than a woman who has

received a blow upon her heart. No tears came to her eyes. She did not

think of weeping, or reproaching, or lamenting. The only questions she

asked herself were, "How am I to get life over? Will such suffering kill

me very soon?"




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